Miriel

Time sits differently on Miriel's shoulders than it does on other elves. At 1,800 years old, she carries herself with a grace that speaks of centuries of careful self-control, her every movement measured and deliberate. Her white hair, worn in elaborate braids interwoven with enchanted threads, catches the light like fresh snow, while her dark skin bears the subtle marks of countless magical workings—pale lines of power that shimmer just beneath the surface when she channels her considerable abilities.

Early Life and Tragedy

The story of how a poor nomad's daughter became one of The Cabal's most powerful sorceresses begins in tragedy. Her first manifestation of magical talent—accidentally turning her family's entire herd of goats bright blue—came during the darkest days of Thorgrim's rise to power, when magic users were being hunted for bounties. Her own extended family, seeing an opportunity for profit, would have turned her over to Thorgrim's agents had her parents not fled with her into the wilderness.

Months of hardship followed as the small family made their way toward what they hoped would be safety. They might have succeeded in hiding indefinitely had another sorceress not recognized Miriel's untrained talent. This chance encounter led to Miriel's apprenticeship and the rapid emergence of her extraordinary magical abilities.

Rapid Rise and Forced Service

What followed was perhaps the fastest progression from novice to master ever recorded—a mere nine years to achieve what takes most mages decades. Miriel's mind seemed perfectly attuned to magical theory and practice, absorbing knowledge with an almost supernatural hunger. But this rapid rise also drew unwanted attention. When Thorgrim's agents discovered her existence, they used her parents as leverage to force her into service.

The oath she swore before Verath was carefully worded—fifty years of service or until Thorgrim ruled all lands North and East of the great sand sea. What no one, not even Thorgrim himself, realized was that Miriel had already begun studying the intricate nature of divine oaths and their loopholes. When she discovered that Thorgrim had executed her parents despite his promises, her path was set.

The Subversion of Thorgrim

The plot she crafted was breathtaking in both its complexity and audacity. Over several years, she carefully laid the groundwork, subtly encouraging Thorgrim's councilors' ambitions while simultaneously preparing the ritual that would both fulfill and subvert her oath. On the appointed day, when Thorgrim's own council lured him into the prepared chamber, Miriel enacted a ritual that would be studied (though never fully understood) by magical scholars for centuries to come.

She bound herself to Thorgrim through her oath, then used that connection to transform him into a lich while simultaneously sealing him within his throne room. The magic ensured that technically, Thorgrim still "lived"—meaning Miriel remained bound to serve him—but his sealed state meant he could never give her orders.

Today, Miriel serves as one of the senior instructors at the mysterious Founders Academy, though most of Aethoria knows her only by reputation or rumor. Her true joy lies in teaching, in seeing the moment of revelation in a student's eyes when they grasp a particularly complex magical concept. She has a gift for leading students to discoveries rather than simply providing answers, often saying that the path to understanding is as important as the knowledge itself.

Her lectures on magical theory are legendary among those fortunate enough to attend them. She has a particular talent for making complex magical concepts accessible through clever analogies and practical demonstrations. Students quickly learn that her teaching style combines rigorous theoretical understanding with practical application, often in ways that challenge their preconceptions about what magic can and cannot do.

Those who study under her find that she takes a personal interest in their development, not just as mages but as people. She has a particular soft spot for students from humble backgrounds, remembering her own origins. Her former students, though few in number, have gone on to become some of the most innovative and ethical practitioners of magic in Aethoria.

Despite her power and position within The Cabal, or perhaps because of them, Miriel maintains connections with her nomadic roots. She regularly travels incognito to the northern steppes, seeking out young magic users who might otherwise go untrained or fall prey to exploitation.

• Accidentally manifested magical talent by turning her family's herd of goats bright blue during Thorgrim's reign
• Achieved the fastest progression from novice to master ever recorded—a mere nine years
• Subverted a divine oath to Verath by transforming Thorgrim into a lich and sealing him in his throne room
• Appeared alongside Eldamar in 1892 to secure Thorgrim's tomb when it was rediscovered, warding the area
• Serves as senior instructor at the Founders Academy, specializing in magic theory and advanced magics
• Maintains connections with nomadic roots, seeking out untrained magic users in the northern steppes
• Her expertise in oath magic and binding theory has led to significant advances in protective magic and ethical binding practices